Dhuin. 2022. India. Directed by Achal Mishra. In Maithili and Hindi; English subtitles. 50 min.
A thick, misty fog (dhuin means “mist” in Maithili) appears to be perpetually enveloping Darbhanga, a provincial town in Bihar, where a 25-year-old aspiring actor can’t seem to see what lies beyond it. While yearning to leave for Mumbai to pursue a serious career, the young man spends time with his fellow creative friends, who are all simultaneously seeking and offering professional advice. A tender and bittersweet portrait of restless youth, Bihari filmmaker Achal Mishra’s follow-up to his debut, The Village House (also featured in this series), is a passionate, minimalist essay on the hopes and dreams of the young generation.